Mammary calcifications. Analysis of selected cases of breast ductal carcinoma in situ

Aim. The aim of this paper is to prove if the radiomorphological evaluation of mammary calcifications can distinguish, with acceptable certainty, benign lesions from malignant lesions. Methods. From January 2000 to December 2002 a total of 30 cases of "doubtful" mammary microcalfications have been selected and examined with surgical biopsy. Mammography showed the presence of doubtful microcalcifications, with iregular morphology and radiological density. Twelve cases have been submitted to stereotaxic reperage with mammography-guided located wire, while the remaining 18 patients have been submitted to ROLL (radioguided occult lesion location). Results. The histomorphopathological examination carried out in all cases underlined the presence of in situ ductal carcinoma in 9 patients, while in the remaining 21 cases biopsy had a therapeutic role since they were benign lesions. Conclusion. The importance of studying these microcalcifications in order to direct "doubtful" lesions towards a guided biopsy and to avoid useless surgical operations for benign mammary lesions is underlined.